Chapter 53: Tik Tock

The Dark team trained with desperate intensity as the fated tournament crept closer. Victory was deemed imperative, no matter the personal costs to soul or sanity. On the worn mats, Leech and Aphrodite grappled and rolled, stealing occasional fevered kisses between bouts. At least love still aligned for them, the coming battles only cementing their intimate devotion.

Nearby, Silver assaulted a training dummy with single-minded fury, trying to bludgeon his turbulent thoughts into numb submission through sheer physical exhaustion. But despite the screaming protest of his overworked muscles, doubt continued to creep into his conflicted mind.